- published: 13 Mar 2013
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Arch 22 is a commemorative arch on the road into Banjul in The Gambia. It was built in 1996 to mark the military coup d'etat which over threw the democratically elected government, and saw the rise to power on 22 July 1994 of President Yahya Jammeh and his Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.
The arch stands on the Banjul-Serrekunda Highway near to the traffic island which intersects with Box Bar Road, Independence Drive and Marina Parade. A statue of the "unknown soldier" can be seen near the base of the arch. The soldier is carrying a baby in one hand, making the peace sign (V-sign) with the other hand, and has a rifle strapped across his back.
The Arch is depicted on the reverse of the 100 dalasi banknote.
The Arch was designed by Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby, who also designed Banjul's Yundum International Airport and the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal.
At 35 metres it is one of the tallest structures in The Gambia. The building stands on eight columns and has three floors. Access to the upper floors can be made through several elevators and spiral cases.
Year 22 (XXII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Agrippa and Galba (or, less frequently, year 775 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 22 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.